---
title: "Linux Deleting Critical Directory Using RM Command"
excerpt: "Data Destruction
"
categories:
  - Endpoint
last_modified_at: 2022-04-22
toc: true
toc_label: ""
tags:
  - Data Destruction
  - Impact
  - Splunk Enterprise
  - Splunk Enterprise Security
  - Splunk Cloud
  - Endpoint
---



[Try in Splunk Security Cloud](https://www.splunk.com/en_us/products/cyber-security.html){: .btn .btn--success}

#### Description

The following analytic identifies a suspicious deletion of a critical folder in Linux machine using rm command. This technique was seen in industroyer2 campaign to wipe or destroy energy facilities of a targeted sector. Deletion in these list of folder is not so common since it need some elevated privileges to access some of it. We recommend to look further events specially in file access or file deletion, process commandline that may related to this technique.

- **Type**: [TTP](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/wiki/Detection-Analytic-Types)
- **Product**: Splunk Enterprise, Splunk Enterprise Security, Splunk Cloud
- **Datamodel**: [Endpoint](https://docs.splunk.com/Documentation/CIM/latest/User/Endpoint)
- **Last Updated**: 2022-04-22
- **Author**: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
- **ID**: 33f89303-cc6f-49ad-921d-2eaea38a6f7a


#### Annotations

<details>
  <summary>ATT&CK</summary>

<div markdown="1">


| ID             | Technique        |  Tactic             |
| -------------- | ---------------- |-------------------- |
| [T1485](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1485/) | Data Destruction | Impact |

</div>
</details>


<details>
  <summary>Kill Chain Phase</summary>

<div markdown="1">

* Exploitation


</div>
</details>


<details>
  <summary>NIST</summary>

<div markdown="1">

* DE.CM



</div>
</details>

<details>
  <summary>CIS20</summary>

<div markdown="1">

* CIS 3
* CIS 5
* CIS 16



</div>
</details>

<details>
  <summary>CVE</summary>

<div markdown="1">


</div>
</details>

#### Search 

```

| tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime from datamodel=Endpoint.Processes where Processes.process_name =rm AND Processes.process= "* -rf *" AND Processes.process IN ("*/boot/*", "*/var/log/*", "*/etc/*", "*/dev/*") by Processes.parent_process_name Processes.process_name Processes.process Processes.process_id Processes.parent_process_id Processes.process_guid Processes.dest Processes.user 
| `drop_dm_object_name(Processes)` 
| `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` 
| `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` 
| `linux_deleting_critical_directory_using_rm_command_filter`
```

#### Macros
The SPL above uses the following Macros:
* [security_content_ctime](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/develop/macros/security_content_ctime.yml)
* [security_content_summariesonly](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/blob/develop/macros/security_content_summariesonly.yml)

> :information_source:
> **linux_deleting_critical_directory_using_rm_command_filter** is a empty macro by default. It allows the user to filter out any results (false positives) without editing the SPL.

#### Required field
* _time
* Processes.dest
* Processes.user
* Processes.parent_process_name
* Processes.process_name
* Processes.process
* Processes.process_id
* Processes.parent_process_id


#### How To Implement
To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting logs with the process name, parent process, and command-line executions from your endpoints. If you are using Sysmon, you can use the Add-on for Linux Sysmon from Splunkbase.

#### Known False Positives
Administrator or network operator can use this application for automation purposes. Please update the filter macros to remove false positives.

#### Associated Analytic story
* [Industroyer2](/stories/industroyer2)
* [Data Destruction](/stories/data_destruction)




#### RBA

| Risk Score  | Impact      | Confidence   | Message      |
| ----------- | ----------- |--------------|--------------|
| 64.0 | 80 | 80 | A deletion in known critical list of folder using rm command $process$ executed on $dest$ |


> :information_source:
> The Risk Score is calculated by the following formula: Risk Score = (Impact * Confidence/100). Initial Confidence and Impact is set by the analytic author. 

#### Reference

* [https://www.welivesecurity.com/2022/04/12/industroyer2-industroyer-reloaded/](https://www.welivesecurity.com/2022/04/12/industroyer2-industroyer-reloaded/)
* [https://cert.gov.ua/article/39518](https://cert.gov.ua/article/39518)



#### Test Dataset
Replay any dataset to Splunk Enterprise by using our [replay.py](https://github.com/splunk/attack_data#using-replaypy) tool or the [UI](https://github.com/splunk/attack_data#using-ui).
Alternatively you can replay a dataset into a [Splunk Attack Range](https://github.com/splunk/attack_range#replay-dumps-into-attack-range-splunk-server)


* [https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1485/rm_shred_critical_dir/sysmon_linux.log](https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1485/rm_shred_critical_dir/sysmon_linux.log)



[*source*](https://github.com/splunk/security_content/tree/develop/detections/endpoint/linux_deleting_critical_directory_using_rm_command.yml) \| *version*: **1**